By Mofor Samuel
A clean environment is the responsibility of every human being। It starts with each person doing his or her part to avoid polluting the air, water and land. Environmental health has become a major global concern in the last three decades. Economic growth and industrial pollution have brought about serious changes in the environment. The consequent problems include global warming, unfavourable changes in weather systems, deforestation, erosion, poor sanitation etc. The environmental degradation has brought virtually all countries to the realization of the dangers posed by the deteriorating environment. Our country Cameroon is no exemption to the environmental problems mentioned above. Presently erosion is a major problem in the southern half of the country while
deforestation and desertification cause great concern in the northern parts of the country.
Environmental health remains poor in Cameroon. The reason being that in our urban and semi urban communities, necessary services are not provided at all, poorly provided or badly managed. The provision of services should be guided by policies which are faithfully implemented, as well as laws and regulations which are impartially enforced. It is up to the consumer to maintain proper balance between environmental and economic issues. With enough individual concern and pressure, salvaging and recycling will replace dumping as the primary means of disposing of waste.
The importance of proper management of solid waste for the health of the individual and the community cannot be overemphasized. The components of solid waste management includes: storage in generating premises, collection, transportation and final disposal. Proper and sanitary handling of solid waste materials in the premises where they are generated constitutes a very important link in the chain of activities for efficient solid waste management.
Bins should be made of durable material to prevent easy disintegration, enable them to withstand wear and tear for a reasonable length of time; and must be designed to keep waste out of sight and reach of insects, rats, dogs, cats and other animals. But for households, public places like markets, parks, motor parks, public gardens, schools churches, mosques etc must have containers for solid waste storage. The disposal of solid waste materials is the final treatment given to the waste in order to make it stable or environmentally friendly. Sanitary methods for the elimination of solid wastes in our urban and semi urban communities include the following: sanitary landfill or controlled tipping, composting, biogas, incineration, sorting, recycling and pulverization.
The recycling of solid waste materials should be a deliberate policy in Cameroon. People should be made to be aware of the possibilities and financial benefits of recycling solid waste. In the printed edition of The Recorder No. 11 of November 1, 2007, this contributor in a write up titled: "Environmental Protection and Scavengers", called on local council authorities to strengthen and encourage the activities of this group of people by throwing their full weight behind them- providing necessary training, machinery, infrastructure, personnel and materials etc. Council authorities can still dialogue with them to see how the activity can be better coordinated. Therefore the government needs to encourage and facilitate private sector participation in the recycling of solid waste.
Sustainable handling and management of solid waste materials equally need a proper identification and classification of solid waste materials:
Garbage: Waste from the preparation, cooking and serving of food. Market refuse, waste from the handling, storage and sale of produce and meats. They are generated in households, institutions, and commercial concerns (hotels, stores, restaurants, markets etc).
Rubbish: Combustible (primarily organic) - paper, cardboard, cartons, wood, boxes, plastics, rags, cloth, bedding, leather, rubber, grass, leaves, yard trimmings. Non combustible (primarily inorganic) - metals, tin cans metal foils, dirt, stones, bricks, ceramics, crockery, glass bottles etc.
Ashes: Residue from fires used for cooking and for heating buildings, cinders.
Bulky wastes: Large auto parts, tyres, stoves, refrigerators, other large appliances, furniture, large crates, trees, branches, palm fronds, stumps, flotage.
Street refuge: Street sweepings, dirt, leaves, catch basin dirt, contents of receptacles. They are found in streets, sidewalks, alleys, vacant lots etc.
Dead animals: Small animals- cats, dogs, poultry. Large animals like horses and cows.
Abandoned vehicles: Automobiles, trucks.
Construction and demolition wastes: Lumber, roofing, and sheathing scraps, rubble, broken concrete, plaster, conduit, pipe, wire insulation.
Industrial refuse: Solid waste resulting from industrial processes and manufacturing operations. (food processing wastes, boiler house cinders, wood, plastic, and metal scraps and shavings etc. They are generated from factories, power plants etc.
Special wastes: Hazardous wastes- pathological wastes, explosives, radioactive materials, security wastes-confidential documents, negotiable papers. Are generated by households, hospitals, institutions, stores, industry etc.
Animal and agricultural wastes: Manures, crop residues. They come from farms and feed lots.
Sewage treatment residues: Coarse screenings, grit, septic tank sludge, dewatered sludge. Source- treatment plants, septic tanks.
This general classification of solid waste materials has been made available to readers courtesy of the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Publication: Guidelines for Local Governments on Solid Waste Management. This publication is targeting individuals, households, communities, industrialists and above all decision makers etc.
A variety of approaches are needed to protect communities from filth and contamination. The first stage is to salvage and recycle solid wastes- both industrial and household. Manufacturers should also be encouraged to produce items-cans- capable of being reused, recycled or disintegrated when attacked by invasive bacteria. Government incentives can be provided to encourage the recycling of junked automobiles.
Finally the individual can influence the production of the various types of packaging and containers for food products through wise purchasing. Consumers can avoid products that are not biodegradable or reusable, or that cannot be recycled. Consumers could also avoid products infancy packages, giving first choice to products packaged in recycled material and products that do not need packaging. Such an effort, if undertaken by many people, would eventually bring about change in the kinds of containers produced by manufacturers.
Individuals can also continue with their efforts to eliminate litter. Beer cans and other garbage thrown onto the road side, into wooded areas and on to beaches not only destroy the appearance of the land, but are also harmful to wildlife. On the whole, a vigourous enforcement of litter laws would be helpful in this regard.
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